12 fruits and veggies high in pesticide contamination

Grapes are one of the fruits that made the top 12 list of most contaminated produce. While eating fruits and veggies contaminated with pesticides is better than not eating them at all, organic produce is the way to go, the Environmental Working Group says. (AP)

WASHINGTON – Eat your vegetables!

Since we were children, we’ve been reminded about the importance of eating fruits and vegetables. So if you’ve been doing just that, give yourself a pat on the back.

But you’re not out of the woods yet. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has released its “Dirty Dozen” list, which names the conventionally grown fruits and veggies containing the highest levels of insecticide contamination.

Here’s the list, in order of most contaminated:

Apples

Celery

Sweet bell peppers

Peaches

Strawberries

Imported nectarines

Grapes

Spinach

Lettuce

Cucumbers

Domestic blueberries

Potatoes

Green beans and kale also received honorable mentions.

Despite these fruits and veggies being high in pesticides, the EWG says eating conventionally grown produce is still better than not eating fruits and vegetables at all. But buying organic is important when it comes to the items on the high pesticide list, the group says.

For more information and a list of the top 15 fruits and veggies lowest in pesticides, visit ewg.org.